Robert C. Miller

Robert C. Miller, born on April 19, 1931, in New Britain, CT, the son of Edward and Aldona Miller, entered eternal rest on April 12, 2025. He married the love of his life Pat, who was his best companion and by his side until her death in June of 2023.

Bob's chance meeting with Pat at Teachers College of New Britain, while he was serving in the army, led to a whirlwind romance, culminating in a wedding in Fairfield. They settled into West Hartford, where Bob pursued the start of his career at Raymond Engineering in Middlefield, while she taught at Glastonbury High School. Bob’s talents as a draftsman did not go unnoticed, and with the encouragement of his boss, George Raymond, he completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering at night. Like everything he did, it was a partnership with Pat, as he always said, if she hadn't taught him poetry, he could not have finished his degree.

In 1967 they moved to Madison, lured by the smell of the salty air, and established a vibrant life surrounded by family and friends. Bob’s career continued to grow, as he was selected to become the President of a subsidiary of Raymond Engineering called Safeway. Bob took a small company manufacturing de-icing heaters for airplane wings, to develop and obtain the patent for waterbed heaters, doubling the company’s value. His ingenuity with heating elements led to the development of the container that NASA used on its space flights. Because of his small company the astronauts had hot food for the first time. His prototypes can be seen at the Air and Space Museum.

Bob, ever the entrepreneur, purchased the company from Raymond Engineering, relocating it to Cromwell, and renaming it Bonded Technology. Specializing in composite core structures for the aerospace industry, Bob built a company with over 200 employees, supplying companies like Boeing Aerospace as well as the US Army. He was a great leader, and it was apparent any time you visited him at the plant. Always looking to improve, he completed his Executive MBA in the first class at the University of New Haven; he enjoyed that time immensely and stayed friends with his many colleagues over the years.

Later, Bonded needed some metal parts that no one could source. When Bob told Pat he was having trouble sourcing metal components, she had the solution, she would start her own company, to do just that, and so Acro Technology was born, a great journey and as always, together.

Bob was a visionary and was unafraid to try anything. He could build anything, he could fix anything, and he was always the best person to go to if you needed help or advice. He was a champion of lifting others up, helping them to improve, and was a fiercely devoted family man and Catholic. He enjoyed many Board positions including the Hospital of St Raphael, Junior Achievement, and the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce.

Bob is predeceased by his parents, Edward and Aldona Miller, as well as his sister Jean and brother Richard. He is survived by his kid sister Sharon (Lanny), his daughter Laura Miller Cozean (Ron), his daughter Susan Miller Polednik (Eric), and son Robert Miller (Christine). He adored his grandchildren: Amanda (Josh), Katherine (Adam), Daniel (Lily), Alex (Morgan), Brittney, Kailey, Jeimy (Chris), Robbie, Will (Grace), Erin (David), Bryan (Braydie); and his great grandchildren Olivia, Matteo, Artie, Cecilia, Theodore, Molly and Jack.

The family will receive friends from 5-7pm on Monday, April 21st at the Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Rd Madison. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 am at St Margaret Church, 24 Academy St, Madison. A burial at West Cemetery will follow.

A very special thank you to Dad’s caregiver and constant companion, Laura. Her kindness made this last 19 months filled with laughter and happiness, and always ready for adventure.